It’s joy for Geraint
GERAINT THOMAS will become the third Briton — and the third Team Sky rider — in just seven years to taste Tour de France glory in Paris today, with Chris Froome claiming they were driven on by the hostility they have encountered over the past three weeks.
Froome will also take a place on the podium on the Champs-Elysees after the processional roll into the French capital this afternoon but, judging by the abuse Sky have received during more than 2,000 miles of racing, it is unlikely to be an entirely joyous occasion.
However Froome, who came into the race hoping to win a fifth Tour but will
instead have to settle for third behind Thomas and Tom Dumoulin, said: ‘When there is negativity, it brings us together as a team. I definitely felt that with the riders. We bonded faster. It feels as if we’re out against the world.
‘We’re here to win the race. It was amazing how the team pulled through, especially when off the bike it’s been more difficult than it has been. The guys have handled it extremely well. Geraint has handled being in the yellow jersey extremely well. You can choose to let it get to you or you can choose to let it motivate you. For us it was a motivation.’
After another difficult year, one dominated by a scathing government report and Froome’s battle to clear his name after that adverse analytical finding at last year’s Vuelta a Espana, Sir Dave Brailsford was understandably delighted to see Thomas follow Froome’s victory in the Giro d’Italia in May.
‘Geraint will be a legend in Britain and Wales but Chris is a titan,’ he said.